Figure 3

Developmental potential of HBPCs. (A) Adipogenic potential of HBPCs was examined. Oil Red O dye staining revealed the presence of adipocytes (arrows) in the HBPC cultures, 3 weeks after adipogenic-inducing medium treatment. Approximately 27 ± 3% of the induced cells were adipocytes. (B) Scanning electron micrograph showing a representative adipocyte that have formed in the cultures. The cytoplasm of these cells was filled with numerous small lipid vesicles (arrows). (C) Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that after the HBPCs were incubated with adipogenic-inducing medium for 3 weeks, CD34 and Nestin (HBPC marker) expression were inhibited while PPAR-γ (adipocyte marker) expression was induced. β-actin served as an internal control. (D) Osteogenic potential of HBPCs was also examined. Alizarin Red S staining revealed the presence of osteocytes (arrows) in the cultures, after 3 weeks osteogenic-inducing medium induction. Approximately 31 ± 3% of the treated cells have transdifferentiated into osteocytes (arrows). (E) Transmission electron micrograph showing a representative osteocyte that has transdifferentiated from the HBPCs. These cells were capable of secreting bone matrix (arrows). (F) Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that after HBPCs were incubated in osteogenic-inducing medium for 3 weeks, CD34 and Nestin expressions were inhibited while Osteocalcin (bone marker) was activated. β-actin served as an internal control.